Not hard to get hooked on salmon fishing

GLEN ARBOR- The first time I heard about salmon fishing from a kayak I was -pardon the pun-hooked.

While attending the annual Quiet Water Symposium in Lansing, I talked with some kayak anglers like Chris LeMessurier, who casually mentioned fishing for salmon from kayaks.

Once salmon was introduced I probably asked with a shocked expression on my face, “You mean you fish out of kayaks on the Great Lakes for salmon?”

I didn’t own a boat at that time, nor had I fished much from a kayak. Once in awhile I would cast from my sea kayak, but that was as close as I came.

While I don’t consider myself a professional, I have a couple of kayaks and try to get out on Oakland Counties inland lakes as much as possible.

Throughout the winter months, I’m daydreaming about chasing salmon in the fall. This year was no exception. In fact, I had begun packing better than a month ahead.

Last weekend, 18 kayak anglers, some with their families, gathered for the 4th annual Kayak Fish the Great Lakes (www.kayakfishthegreatlakes.com) salmon slam. “This the most (participants) we have ever had,” event organizer Chris LeMessurier said.

A few salmon were caught but the actual runs hadn’t quite begun. Give it another week and they should be in.

Each year it’s a guess as to whether the salmon will be in the bays along Lake Michigan, schooling before heading up stream to spawn.

Some years catches are better than others. This year wasn’t any different. Those that arrived mid-afternoon on Thursday couldn’t wait to get personal effects settled before hauling their boats onto the sandy beach, bows pointed toward Lake Michigan.

Fishing conditions on the waters of Sleeping Bear Dunes Bay just north of Platte Bay can change rather quickly. That’s why it’s best to have several days to spend just in case the weather doesn’t cooperate.

Another good idea is to pack gear for small streams and inland lakes. If you get blown off Lake Michigan there are numerous small creeks, rivers and inland lakes that stay protected even in hard blows.

This is an excellent opportunity to renew old acquaintances and form new friendships with kayak anglers that came from Temperance, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Auburn Hills, Waterford, Birmingham and other points yearly to fish for salmon.

When people hear about fishing from a kayak on Lake Michigan they assume the fishing takes place miles off shore, in all kinds of weather.

Actually, we fish near shore with an eye on the weather, not venturing on the water in windy, rough conditions.

We fish in a group or at the least with a buddy fairly close. Most have radios tuned to the same channel.

The idea is to share information with others like announcing when fish are caught, what bait was used, and where the catch took place along with any other information such as how far back the trolling was and how deep the lure.

Communication is important to keep track of fishermen and knowing who goes in early, who comes out to join the group, and any problems that someone may be experiencing.

For safety reasons, it’s important to know how many boats are on the water, as well as take a nose count when they return.

The newcomer or “newbie” to the group was Auburn Hills resident Bob Wiest. “This is a nice bunch of guys,” he said.

“It’s nice being out on bigger water,” he said. Wiest does a lot of inland lake fishing. Kayaking on big water is something new to him.

Big water isn’t new to me. I’ve kayaked on Lake Superior numerous times as well as Lake Michigan. Some trip planning no matter what water you fish is important.

First is the weather. Get a good report before setting out. Next comes equipment. It goes without saying, you need to not only have a PFD but you must wear it at all times.

Accidents happen to the best of us, even on flat water. It can go from a good trip to a cold and wet one quickly.

Imagine, you are sitting upright in your yak, perhaps changing lures or adjusting your electronics. You lean just a little too far over the side and before you know it you’re in the drink along with your equipment.

Before a spill happens, be sure your equipment is secured to the kayak. That includes rods, fish grippers, paddle, tackle boxes and hand tools.

Here is a list of some other things I’ve learned from fishing out of a kayak:

— If you launch or land on a sandy beach some distance from your vehicle have a Wheelez cart available to transport your yak to and from the water. You’ll be glad you spent a little extra to get a beach cart with soft, wide wheels that rides on top of the sand.

— Bring tie down straps longer than you anticipate using. They’ll come in handy for lashing to that beach cart and just as handy for tying down your boat to your vehicle.

— Have a check list for launching. It never hurts to take time and make a last minute equipment check. One evening, I was sure I had everything. After launching on a calm Lake Michigan an uneasy thought began creeping in.

I set my line and began paddling out into deeper water. About a quarter of a mile off-shore I realized I had left my PFD on shore. There was nothing to do but reel in and return, calling it a night.

Sometimes staying close is a better choice. Especially when the weather isn’t favorable. For instance, we found salmon in the Crystal River which runs directly behind the condo we were renting at The Homestead. Unable to get out on Lake Michigan due to high seas, the river made for a perfectly acceptable solution.

Roger Beukema writes a weekly outdoors column for Journal Register Newspapers. Email him at dutchbeukema@comcast.net and read his blog at theoaklandpress.com.